The Queen's Corgi Died and Here's Why She's Not Getting Any More

Britain's longest reigning monarch famously loves her dogs to no end, so the news of one pet's death hits especially close to home. She received her first corgi at the age of 18, and cared for more than 30 pups over the past 70 years.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Holly stuck close to the Queen's side throughout her lifetime. She starred with her mom and Daniel Craig in the James Bond sketch that opened the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She also recently appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in a series of acclaimed portraits taken by Annie Leibovitz.

A post shared by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) on May 31, 2016 at 5:08am PDT

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Unfortunately, Holly was suffering from an illness when the Queen decided she should be put down. The adored dog is reportedly buried in the garden at Scotland's Balmoral Castle. In a touching gesture, the Queen can view the chosen spot from her drawing room window.

The world-famous animal lover still has three dogs to keep her company. Vulcan and Candy are both "dorgies," a cross between a dachshund and a corgi. Willow, another corgi, is also 13. Sadly, the Queen won't be adopting any new pups. When her dog Monty died in 2012, the 90-year-old reportedly said she didn't want to leave any new dogs behind. Given how much the Queen enjoys their companionship, her tough decision feels especially heartbreaking.

We'll all be thinking of the Queen — and hugging our dogs a little bit closer tonight.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
House Beautiful participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.